Jones, William Hartley
3084 Private William Hartley Jones - 44th Battalion AIF
William was born on the 20th November 1884 at Brownlow Kangaroo Island South Australia to William and Louisa Jones, being one of five children born into the family. His Mother Louisa died in 1888 and his father remarried in 1890 and William would have a further ten half siblings.
The family moved to Fremantle in 1900 and took up residence in the Port City. The family moved to Brookton circa 1908.
William returned to the Port City and married Lily May Leach in Fremantle on the 9th April 1912, and the following children were born, Warwick in 1913, Frank in 1915 and Harold in 1916. During this time they were living at 32 George Street Beaconsfield.
On the 24th November 1916 William enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force and was accepted as fit for service. The medical examiner recorded William's physical attributes as;
Height - 6 feet 1 & 1/2 inches;
Weight - 161lbs;
Chest Measurement - 36-40 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Light Brown.
After his successful enlistment, William was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and was assigned to the 7th Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion. He trained with this group for three weeks and they then received their departure orders. On the 29th January 1917, William and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Miltiades and set sail for England. The ship arrived at Devenport Harbour on the 29th March 1917.
After being disembarked William was sent to the 11th Training Battalion at Fovant Camp. William would train at Fovant and Durrington Camps for the next few months. However in July 1917 William had his fitness level downgraded and was diagnosed with phthisis.
On the 30th July 1917 William was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth to await a transport ship back home. On the 10th September 1917 William boarded the transport ship Ulysses back home to Australia, arriving back at Fremantle in November 1917.
William was then discharged from the AIF on the 20th November 1917.
After a another year or two in Fremantle, the family returned to Brookton. Further children were now born, Laurence in 1920, Leila in 1925 and Edna in 1928.
William worked for the WA Government Railways during his time in Brookton and Greenbushes.
William died on the 5th February 1947 in Greenbushes.